Indulging in Mexican, Indian, or Cajun cuisine at a restaurant or takeout may be enjoyable, but it’s no fun when spicy food has you running to the bathroom with diarrhea a few hours later.
This article will cover how to settle your stomach after eating spicy food.
What to Eat and Drink When You Have Diarrhea
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How Long Food Takes to Digest and Leave the Body
How Spicy Foods Cause Diarrhea
You might assume that having diarrhea after eating something spicy means there’s something wrong with your digestive tract. However, this reaction to spicy foods is actually completely normal. It's a sign that your body is hard at work protecting you from possible harm.
Foods made with hot spices such as cayenne or chili peppers contain a powerful ingredient called capsaicin. The substance can irritate your skin and other bodily tissues—including the lining of your gut. When you eat hot peppers or salsa, capsaicin is what causes the burning sensation and the symptoms.
Capsaicin and Your Stomach
Capsaicin can irritate the lining of your stomach and intestines. Some people can handle the minor irritation just fine but for more sensitive stomachs, it can lead to diarrhea.
Digestionis a very well-organized process that starts with the first bite of food and finishes when we have a bowel movement.
When we eat capsaicin, it actually stimulates the vanilloid receptor 1(TRPV1 or the capsaicin receptor) which tells our brains that we are burning from the inside.
Our brain tries to understand what's going on in the body and will release pain blockers known as endorphins.Endorphins are also the “feel good” hormones in the body, so that’s why you may feel happy when you’re eating spicy food, and may find yourself reaching for more and more wings.
The burning effect of capsaicin triggers the body to take action against what it interprets as potential harm.
Usually, digestion slows when food gets to the colon so the intestines can absorb water. But when you've eaten something spicy, capsaicin activates the vanilloid receptor 1 receptors in your GI tract. So, instead of slowing things down, the colon speeds the process up to get rid of the "threat" it senses. The result? You get diarrhea. Sometimes, people even feel like their butt is on fire, thanks to the manypain receptorsin the anus.
While eating spicy food can be uncomfortable in the short term, researchers actually don’t know if there are any long-term risks of the burning effects of capsaicin.
Why We Get Diarrhea
When to See a Provider
Diarrhea triggered by hot or spicy food usually clears up in a day or two, and you probably won't need to see a healthcare provider about it.
In most cases, taking it easy on your gut and eating non-spicy foods for a few days will get you through occasional diarrhea. It's also important to drink plenty of water so you stay hydrated and avoid caffeinated beverages which could make diarrhea worse.
However, if your symptoms do not get better in a day or two or they get worse, and you have signs of dehydration (like dry mouth, urinating less, and headaches),you should get medical attention.
How to Stop Diarrhea Fast
Can Diarrhea From Spicy Food Be Prevented?
The only surefire way to prevent diarrhea from spicy food is to figure out what your trigger foods are and avoid eating them.
If you can't resist and want to at least ease the burn of spicy food going down, you've probably heard that eating something sweet or drinking a glass of milk can help. In fact, the latter might actually work. Dairy contains a protein called casein that helps break down capsaicin. It won't stop you from getting diarrhea, but a sip of milk can relieve the burning sensation in your mouth.
Another tip: If you’re sure you’ll end up with diarrhea after enjoying an extra spicy meal, keep some hypoallergenic wipes handy to help ease the discomfort in the bathroom.
Causes of Diarrhea After Eating
Summary
Some people's guts are sensitive to spicy foods. Eating too much spicy food can cause them to experience diarrhea. If this describes you, there's nothing wrong with your digestive system. It's just your body's way of protecting itself from potential harm.
You can take steps to prevent diarrhea by recognizing your trigger foods and avoiding them. And if you just can't pass up spicy wings at the big game, at least you'll be prepared for the aftereffects.
Foods to Avoid When You Have Diarrhea
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I eat spicy food while pregnant?
Yes, most people can eat spicy food while pregnant. Eating spicy food will not harm the health of a parent or their child. The same is true of breastfeeding. However, nausea is a common symptom in early pregnancy and eating spicy food can make symptoms worse. In later stages of pregnancy, some people experience heartburn and indigestion that can be exacerbated by spicy food.
Are spicy foods good for you?
Spicy foods can be good for you in moderate amounts. Eating spicy food may reduce bad cholesterol levels, increase metabolism to assist in weight loss, and help prevent tumors in the gastrointestinal tract. These benefits are attributed to capsaicin, a compound found in chili peppers. Everyone's body works differently, so these benefits may be more apparent in some people.
What helps settle your stomach after eating spicy food?
Ice cream, milk, cottage cheese, and bread or another starchy food might help settle your stomach after eating spicy food. A small amount of peppermint oil may help reduce inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Be careful about eating any dairy items if you are lactose-intolerant.
How to Soothe Anal Burning From Diarrhea
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Poison Control. Capsaicin: When the chili is too hot.
Frias B, Merighi A. Capsaicin, nociception and pain.Molecules. 2016;21(6):797. doi:10.3390/molecules21060797
Cedars-Sinai. Dehydration.
American Chemical Society. Hot peppers: muy caliente.
Nolden AA, Lenart G, Hayes JE. Putting out the fire - Efficacy of common beverages in reducing oral burn from capsaicin.Physiol Behav. 2019;208:112557. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.05.018
Penn Medicine. Spice Up Your Life: The Health Benefits of Spicy Foods.
Chumpitazi BP, Kearns GL, Shulman RJ. Review article: the physiological effects and safety of peppermint oil and its efficacy in irritable bowel syndrome and other functional disorders.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2018;47(6):738-752. doi:10.1111/apt.14519
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By Kenneth Brown, MD
Kenneth Brown, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist specializing in digestive health, including irritable bowel syndrome, colon cancer screening, and GERD.
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